FAMILY and friends of Sophie have been rocked by her sudden death after her body was discovered at her home on Saturday morning.

SHOCKED school pupils and their headteacher have paid tribute to a teenage girl who was found hanged at her home.

The body of Sophie Parkinson, 13, was discovered at her house on an upmarket estate near Dundee on Saturday morning.

Friends spoke of their love for the second-year pupil, while John Halliday, the rector of £10,000-a-year Dundee High School, called her “kind and caring”.

He added : “Her huge smile and generous personality left an indelible mark on all those she encountered.”

A tribute to the pupil on Twitter referred to bullying. It said: “Heaven gained an angel. Sophie Parkinson 2000-2014 March 1. Never forgotten. RIP. Three words... bullying ruins lives.”

But police have played this down and Halliday said he didn’t believe bullying had happened at the school or been a factor in the tragedy. It is unclear if the message was left by a friend or a member of the public.

Sophie lived in the village of Liff, near Dundee, with her twice-married mum, Ruth, 42, a former nurse and researcher at Dundee University and her partner Craig Moss, who works for computer design firm Oracle.

13 yr old Sophie Parkinson was found dead at her home in Liff near Dundee.

Ruth married Simon Goring, 46, in Aldworth, Berkshire, in September 1996. The couple moved to Dundee and had two children, Joshua, 16 and Sophie.

The Gorings were divorced in August 2004 and Ruth married Henry Parkinson, 60, in Cupar, Fife, three months later before divorcing him last year and settling down with Simon.

Friends had left flowers and gifts at the door of the family’s home, which was empty yesterday. Neighbours refused to discuss the tragedy.

One parent picking up children at Dundee High School said: “It’s a tragedy. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare.”

Halliday said support was being provided to the youngster’s classmates and teachers, adding: “Sophie was a popular and talented pupil, with a loyal group of close friends.

Tragic 13-year-old Sophie Parkinson

“Her vivid imagination meant she was particularly able in English. She also loved cooking and was a talented young actor.

“We’ll all miss her hugely. Sophie will live long in our hearts and minds. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family and friends at this very difficult time.”

Halliday said he did not believe school bullying had been a factor in “this awful tragedy”.

He added: “We cannot control what appears on social media. However, the school has well-established and effective pupil welfare policies.

“The happiness and welfare of every single pupil is our first priority and we go to great lengths to get it right for every child.”

Parents of children at the school received notification of Sophie’s death in official letters.

A book of remembrance has been set up at the school, where the flag is at half mast.

Sophie’s friends paid online tributes. One wrote: “RIP Sophie Parkinson. We loved you so much – I just wish you could have seen it sooner.”

Another said: “So young and such a terrible way to leave this world. RIP Sophie Parkinson. We wish you’d never done it. We love you.”